Tas protest charges dropped

All five people arrested under Tasmania's controversial anti-protest laws in the state's Lapoinya Forest have had their cases dropped by prosecutors.

Former Australia Greens leader Bob Brown and fellow campaigner Jessica Hoyt were told in May that police would drop charges against them and when John Henshaw, Roger Bradley and Brett Donoghue faced Burnie Magistrate's Court on Monday, they were free to go when the prosecution failed to tender any evidence.

Dr Brown, 71, will push ahead with plans for a High Court challenge against the legislation which he says is undemocratic, while the Liberal state government stands by the law which was introduced in 2014.